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The C.O.W bus makes its annual visit to Beaumont

The Alberta Prairie Classroom On Wheels (C.O.W. Bus) visited the Beaumont Public Library on Monday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 19 for the day. The C.O.W Bus' mission is to encourage early literacy for children by teaching parents the importance of introducing their children to letters, reading and writing before the age of 5. Kids were treated to puzzles, books and games during their time on the C.O.W Bus. Christina Weichel/Beaumont News

Families by the busload gathered at the Beaumont Public Library (BPL) on Monday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 19 to take their turn on the Centre for Family Literacy's Alberta Prairie Classroom on Wheels (C.O.W bus).

The C.O.W bus' last visit to Beaumont was more than a year ago and Andrea Ciochetti, program coordinator for the BPL said that it was such a hit the C.O.W bus agreed to visit the BPL every year.

"We just asked them to come and they did. Families love it," said Ciochetti.

The C.O.W bus is an early literacy awareness project funded by Alberta Advanced Education and Technology and the United Way. Amanda Di Marco, facilitator for the C.O.W bus said the project is an important part of bridging the gap between home and school for parents and their children.

"We try to support parents in their role as first and best teachers by trying to provide a space where they can interact with their children and explore the bus. This is one way to teach parents about the importance of introducing literacy long before their children get to school. There is a lot of disconnect between home and school and it means a lot of kids are entering school unprepared," said Di Marco.

According to Di Marco and her co-facilitator Tamara Picknell, the first five years of a child's life are crucial to developing a child's learning capabilities. This is why Di Marco said the C.O.W bus program is actually targeted at the parents, rather than the children.

"On the C.O.W bus we encourage parents to play with their kids by reading them a story or building a puzzle with them. We are really only here to offer information and ideas if needed," explained Di Marco. "Some parents feel like their kids are too young to read too, but kids are still picking up on the flow of the language when you read to them even if they don't understand it, they do listen to the words."

In fact, one of the main tenants of the Centre for Family Literacy is that literacy development begins at birth: children witness parents writing lists, checking the latest sports scores, and helping to turn the pages of bedtime stories. Di Marco and Picknell said these are all building blocks for strong reading, writing and language skills.

"It provides the foundation for all other learning so if they are missing that they could really struggle when they start school," said Di Marco. In an effort get this message across the C.O.W bus visits more than 60 Alberta communities per year and with a capacity of approximately 20 people, Di Marco said it is not uncommon for the bus to see more than 30 families per visit.

In addition, every community the C.O.W bus visits will receive 50 books for children aged zero to six-years-old. "It is part of our 'Legacy Library,'" explained Picknell. "We donate the books to the local libraries and they make use of them as they see fit."

According to Ciochetti, Beaumont's share of the Legacy Library books will become a part of the library's collection. "They'll be for everyone to enjoy," said Ciochetti.

To learn more about the Centre for Family Literacy and the C.O.W bus program, visit their website at family.ca.